Hello I've just noted Randa's post about the NC500 and had to offer this as an alternative.

As you may or may not know Phil and I retired from Eriba ownership a couple of years ago and opted for a campervan (long story). May we offer as an alternative The South West Coastal 300 route?

We have just returned from this and encourage you to consider it as a less stressful tour. The coastal route starting from Dumfries to Stranraer is, admittedly, a little underwhelming but from Stranraer onwards it is stunning. There are lots of opportunities for diversions off route to explore interesting spots and the roads generally are suitable for towing. We had no difficulty in finding campsites (usually CL/CS sites) but there are CCC & CMC sites along the way too.

Anyway just thought some of you might be interested as the NC500 seems to be a bone of contention with may folk at the moment.

Denise & Phil

Marmite Triton 418, Marmite too Troll 540, now Vanda the van

We’ve just come back from Ireland, ferry into Cairnryan. We had a lovely CS or CL, can never remember which is which, just outside Stranraer. The views are lovely, the roads are definitely Eriba friendly. It’s a less explored area but well worth a visit and all those foreign rented motor homes are on the NC500 so it’s a win/win.

Hi Marmite,
We were just sitting and planning a holiday in September and wondering which direction to take.
You’ve inspired us to revisit this lovely corner of Scotland. - We should be due to collect our new 550 from Tebay around the end of the month so it all makes sense.
We stayed at Solway view, Kirkcudbright about 15 years ago and will deffo go there again, but maybe you have some suggested sites?
We like CLs and CS’s but ideally with showers.
We have 2 weeks, so maybe we’ll shuffle up into Ayr as well.

Steve.

There’s always next year Roger.
Have you got the car fixed now?

Good Morning Inspecta

Well we hope you won't be disappointed. From memory we stayed two nights at Garlieston CMC site next to a small harbour, nice and quiet, the best showers in the shabbiest toilet block ever seen on a CMC site and an excellent breakfast to be had at The Hive a three minute walk from the site which is also dog friendly.

Can recommend CCC Culzean Castle site you will need to allow at least two nights in order to get the best out of the visit to the castle and various gardens. The walk from the car park to the castle is a fair distance but there was an electric shuttle available from the stables courtyard where the reasonably priced cafe was. If you go try for a pitch overlooking the coast looking towards Arran (we had pitch 13 it was a belter). Expect the site to be busy we were there just before the english schools broke for the summer and it was still busy.

As for the rest we just booked CL/CS sites as we went along depending on where we thought we would end up at the end of the day, not an option for you but they all had toilets and showers of varying quality.

As for the rest must sees are Isle of Whithorn (St Ninian's Priory cradle of british Christianity) , Mull of Galloway lighthouse (good cafe) Alloway (gardens) Wigtown (biggest bookstore) and various others whose brown tourist signs you will spot along the way.

Enjoy planning your trip google South West Coastal 300 you will get lots of route advice and ideas on things to see there.

Good Luck

Denise & Phil
Marmite. (VandaVan)

Somehow got posted twice - oops

Thanks for that,
Did you find that the 5-van sites were mostly available or did you have to phone around?

Thanks, Steve.

Hi

Most of the 5 van sites were available, the odd one wasn't keen on overnight stays and wanted a minimum of two days. This of course was out of v high season so I imagine it will be much the same for you in September. We occasionally asked for a pitch at a regular site and they mostly wanted two night minimum, weekend spots were a little trickier.

Denise

Weve been watching a you tube series of vanners doing this stretch, it looks very nice area.